Lexus Cited in Harrowing Account Is Still on the Road

By

Kate Linebaugh

Updated Feb. 24, 2010 9:41 am ET

WASHINGTON —The Lexus sedan driven by
Rhonda Smith,
who testified in Congress Tuesday about a harrowing incident of sudden acceleration, is still on the road, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In fact, the new owners of the luxury ES350 sedan have reported 27,000 miles trouble-free with the vehicle, according to a NHTSA spokeswoman. Mrs. Smith and her husband sold the vehicle after the incident, in which she thought she might die.

The federal safety agency followed up with the new owners last week. A NHTSA spokeswoman said "they have had no problems with the Lexus since they bought it with less than 3,000 miles on the car."

The Smiths' Lexus became a bone of contention in the congressional hearing Tuesday over
Toyota Motor Corp.
's sudden acceleration issue. Ms. Smith choked back tears during her testimony as she described how her Lexus accelerated out of control up to speeds of 100 miles per hour on a Tennessee highway in 2006.

At the time, NHTSA investigators determined a rubber floor mat had trapped the accelerator into full throttle position. But Ms. Smith and her husband insisted floor mats were not at fault.

Because her cruise control light flashed before the vehicle took off at high speed, Ms. Smith thinks the problem is related to the vehicle's electronics.

Lawmakers then grilled Toyota's U.S. sales chief
Jim Lentz
over whether the company had tried to buy back the vehicle to assess the problem. Mr. Lentz said he was unaware of whether efforts had been made.

"I have not spoken to the Smiths but I plan to. I don't know the specifics of the situation," Mr. Lentz said, adding he was "embarrassed for what happened."

The House Energy and Commerce Committee opened the first of three congressional hearings on Toyota's safety issues. Committees are expected to grill Toyota executives and federal safety regulators over their response to more than 2,000 complaints of sudden acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles over the last decade.

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Lexus Cited in Harrowing Account Is Still on the Road

WASHINGTON —The Lexus sedan driven by Rhonda Smith, who testified in Congress Tuesday about a harrowing incident of sudden acceleration, is still on the road, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.